Whiffletree-coupling



(No Model.) C WIL'COX WHIPFLETRBE coUPLING.

No. 491,790'. Patented Feb. 14,1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS VVILCOX, OF SUNBURY, OHIO.

WHIFFLETREE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,790, dated February 14, 1893. Application led July 3, 1891. Serial Ilo. 398,329. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OORNELIU S VVILCOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunbury, in the county of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Whiiietree-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of pivot supports for vehicle whiiiie-trees, and the objects of my invention are, to provide a superior form of pivot coupling between the Whittle-tree and shaft cross-bar and to construct said coupling in a simple, durable and inexpensive manner; to so construct said pivot coupling, as to produce a uniform bearing of the connected parts; to provide means for decreasing or increasing the frictional contact or pressure between said parts and to produce means for limiting the swinging or lateral movement of the whiftletree. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a plan View of the central portion of the whiffle-tree, shown connected with my improved pivot coupling. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of said pivot coupling showing in connection therewith, the central portion of the shaft cross-bar and Whittle-tree. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section taken on line @con of Fig. 2. Fig. 4C is a view of the cross-bar plate with the whiffle-tree plate removed, and Fig. 5 is an under side face view of the whiffle-treeplate.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

a represents the whiflie-tree pivot or coupling plate, which comprises as shown, a horizontal portion provided with a dattened upper side, from the rear portion of which extends upwardly at right-angles with said horizontal portion, an attaching flange d. Formed on the under side of the horizontal portion of the plate a is a circular flange as indicated at a2, which results as shown, in the formation with said iange or ring, of a circular seat or shallow socket a3.

a4 represents a rear extension of the plate d, said extension having its under side flush or on a level with the bottom of the ring a2 and preferably having its rear edge curved and its ends iiaring outwardly as shown. Formed in the extension a4 and extending to within close proximity to the ends thereof, is a slotted opening a5, which as shown is formed in the arc ot' a circle. Formed in the plate a at the center of the ring (L2 is a central pivot or bolt-hole a6.

b represents the cross-bar plate or lower pivot bearing plate, which corresponds in size with the upper plate a and which has extending downwardly from its rear portion an attaching flange b', which corresponds with the iiange a of the plate a. This lower plate b is also provided with a rear extension b2 beyond said attaching iiange, which corresponds in outline and size with the upper plate extension at, said lower plate-extension being provided with a central screw-hole, as indicated at h3. Formed on the upper side of the body of the forward portion of the plate b is a disk-shaped bearing projection c, which is provided with a central boltor pivot-hole c', said bearing projection being of a size to fit snugly and rotate within the socket or seat a3 of the plate a.

The whiiiie-tree plate a has its horizontal body secured by screws or bolts to the under side of the central portion of a whifIie-tree d, the rear side of the latter abutting against the attaching iange a and secured thereto by suitable screws or bolts e.

The horizontal body of the cross-bar plate b, is secured by screws or other-wise to the upper side and central portion of a shaft crossbar immediately beneath the plate a, the at- 'caching flange b of said plate b being secured as prescribed for the flange a', to the rear side of the cross-bar. The parts being thus respectively secured to the whiffle-tree and cross-bar, it will be seen that the projection c of the plate 1J will find a bearing seat in the socket a3 of the plate a and that the slotted extensions oof the upper plate will bear upon the rear extension of the lower plate, as shown in the drawings.

Z represents the pivot bolt, which as shown, pivotally connects the whifle-tree and crossbar hy passing loosely through the whiflictree d, thence through the plate-holes a and c and cross-bar g and carrying upon said lower end portion a nut g which abuts against the under side of the cross-piece.

Through the slot a5 of the plate extension a4 extends loosely the upper unthreaded por- ICC tion of a short bolt la, the screw-threaded lower portion of which enters and engages with the internal screw-threads of the screw-hole b3 of the lower plate extension b2. Upon the lower projecting end of the bolt k is screwed a locknut k while upon the upper end of said bolt is formed a flanged head k2. It will be evident from the foregoing description that should this nut work oft the bolt, the screwthreaded engagement of the bolt with the aperture b3 Will prevent the loss ofthe bolt caused by the jarring of parts.

From the construction shown and described, it will be seen that the Whittle-tree plate is provided with a solid bearing both n pon and about the disk-shaped projection of the crossbar plate. It will also be seen that the partial rotation of the whifletree upon the crossbar will result in a sliding bearing of the plate extension a4 upon the lower plate extension h2 and that the head of the bolt k will serve to prevent any tendency of the upper plate toward tipping forward through the forward draft upon the Whittle-tree and by obviatin-g this tendency, do away with the unequal wearing of the bearing parts toward the forward portions thereof, which as is well known is a common fault in whiie-tree pivot couplings. It will also be seen that the bolt 7.o in conjunction with its slotted guide-way, will serve to limit the swinging movement of the whitlietree and to obviate the necessity of employit exceedingly durable and by tightening the l nuts g and lo admit of the friction being increased as desired between the parts.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

The combination with the cross-bar g and the Whittle-tree d, of the angular plate secured to the upper and rear-side of the said cross-bar and provided with an integral disk shaped bearing projection c and an extension b2 having a screw threaded bolt hole b3, the angular plate d secured to the under and rear side of the whiflie-tree and provided on its under side with a circular recess or seat into which works the said disk shaped bearing portion, and further provided with an eXtension a4 having a curved slot a5, a bolt z' passed through the Whittle-tree, plates and cross-bar and provided with a nutg, and a bolt 7c passed through the curved slot and having a screwthreaded engagement in the bolt hole b3 and with a nut 7c', substantially as described.

CORNELUS VILCOX.

In presence of- E. E. BRAGG, C. C. SHEPHERD. 

